The College of the Canyons Center for Early Childhood Education and the Southern California Valley Association for the Education of Young Children will host the 13th annual ‘Play Day’ event as part of the nationally celebrated Week of the Young Child.

The goal of the College of the Canyons Children’s Play Day is to bring the community together for a day of high quality, developmentally stimulating play experiences for all children, infant to school age, to enjoy. The event also provides families with young children an opportunity to explore the many valuable resources that are available to them both at the college and in the community.

“I look forward to seeing the smiling faces of parents and children at this event each year,” said Wendy Ruiz, director of infant/toddler programs at the college’s Center for Early Childhood Education and co-chair of Week of the Young Child SCVAEYC. “Our hope is to provide local families with a day of free fun, in a safe and nurturing environment that infants, toddlers and school-age children will all enjoy.”

In all, nearly 50 local non-profit groups and organizations dedicated to child and family services are expected to participate in this year’s Play Day. Food vendors will also be available at the event.

Attendees are also welcome to bring a picnic lunch and blanket and settle in under the shade for the day’s lineup of free activities.

This year the event is dedicated to Bev Bos, a renowned teacher, author and advocate for play-based learning for preschoolers, who passed away earlier this year.

To honor Bos, who served as an inspiration to the ECE community, attendees are welcome to enjoy a day of open ended play and sensory experiences, as well as storytelling, obstacle courses, Pop Up Adventure Playground, art, water play, martial arts, dance, face painting, math and science activities and much more.

The College of the Canyons Children’s Play Day will be held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, April 16, in the COC Honor Grove, located on the college’s Valencia campus.

As always, this event is free and open to the public.

Parking in college lots 5, 6 and 7, located off Rockwell Canyon Road adjacent to the campus’ tennis courts, will also be free for this event.

For more information about Play Day at College of the Canyons contact Wendy Ruiz at (661) 644-2752 or wendy.ruiz@canyons.edu​.